Before then, the current high pressure will see Brits bask in 26C tomorrow and Wednesday.

The storm will then move in on Thursday, sending in the first of many bands of heavy rain across the UK.

According to weather forecast maps on WXCharts, the relentless rain will pour through Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

FIRST LOT: A band of heavy rain will move in on Thursday to signal the start of the storm (Image: WXCHARTS)

WET, WET, WET: The heaviest of the rain will arrive on Friday (Image: WXCHARTS)

Friday will see the biggest drop in temperature, from the current near 30s to the low 20s.

Met Office spokeswoman Nicola Maxey said: "High pressure starts to move away and we get a more Atlantic mobile series of fronts coming through on later in the week.

"There will be some showers around on Wednesday and Thursday and some of these will be heavy, however in between there will be some decent sunny spells and plenty of dry weather especially in south-eastern parts of the country.

MISERY: Saturday will also see a day of rain in a wet start to the weekend (Image: WXCHARTS)

STAYING WARM: Temperatures will still linger in the 20s despite the storm (Image: WXCHARTS)

"It turns more widely unsettled on Friday with rain and some strong winds moving across the country from the northeast, some of these showers will be heavy and thundery."

A spokesman for The Weather Company added: "There will be some very wet conditions to the south-west of the UK to end the week.

"A low-pressure cell will move in over south-west regions of the UK on Friday with some persistent and locally heavy rain affecting south-west UK and South Wales.

"Some thundery downpours expected over the south-west UK Friday evening with a risk of local flooding."

Despite the storm, the weather will stay warm throughout before the mercury rises once again next week.

Daily Star Online reported yesterday that a 32C African heatwave will bake Britain later next week.